It has been unseasonably warm in my Pacific NW garden this winter (zone 8) and I'm in a quandary about mulching. We haven't yet had a frost this year, usually it occurs in Nov., and I even still have some roses blooming. It has also been very, very rainy (34 days straight).
Is it okay to start mulching now? Will I mess up the plants response if we do indeed get a severe freeze? I know it's not a good idea to mulch when the ground is frozen, but I'm not sure what to do in this case. Will I trick the early blooming perennials into thinking it's Spring? I would like to take advantage of the upcoming dry weather and get a head start on some spring chores if I can. Should I also delay pruning? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Happy Garden Dreams- Keli

I hesitate to respond, as you are in a much warmer zone than I & that may be a deciding factor. But I will tell you that I mulch annually BEFORE the ground freezes here, because I just have too much ground to get covered to wait (I'd be pushing the snow off to do it if I waited!) I have had no adverse affects using this practice, so far. I surround each of my perennials with composted manure beginning in early autumn & start laying a 4" layer of shredded fall leaves over everything just as soon as the leaves begin to drop from the trees. Often we have lots of HOT days in fall. But I believe plants (& woodland creatures) react to the shortening days & lessening light & 'know' that winter approaches, regardless of the unseasonable temperatures. I envy you that rain; I mulch to conserve moisture as much as for anything else, as we are in a drought cycle here in the mid-Atlantic region. I would delay pruning, though, ..THAT may stimulate new growth that could get frost-killed.

I too live in the mid-Atlantic (zone 6) also on a mountain in the middle of the woods and since I use shredded leaves for mulch my gardens usually get mulched as soon as most of the leaves are gone from the trees. Usually I get a couple of frosts before that but if I waited until the ground froze I too would be shoveling snow first. I always throw some balanced organic fertilizer on the ground first to give the bulbs a head start in the spring. One thing, If you have woody perennials make sure you leave some unmulched ground around the main stem or it could cause rot. Do not prune now for the reasons stated above. Pruning depends on the plant -- I prune some in the fall and some in early spring.

Thank you for your advice.
I'm usually pretty carefree about my garden, but as I said, this has been a most unusual late fall/early winter. I was mostly concerned about any typical mid-winter to early spring pruning, such as pruning for shape and opening up some small trees and shrubs that are spring blommers.
I'm looking forward to getting a head start on spring maintenance!
Happy Garden Dreams-
Keli

I live in Portland and Mulch regularly before it gets cold, which it never really does.

I wouldn't worry about tricking you garden, it is smarter than you think and most blooming decisions are based on light, not temp. I'm honestly not sure what you are worried about.

And pruning, especially roses, can be done early. In this part of the country it is hard to get them to NOT grow to much no matter when you prune them.

If you keep a seasonal routine going you can forget about what the weather is doing, as the care for your garden will benefit it even if the weather is wierd, as it is. Where in the PNW are you?

I live in the Portland area as well and as I said, gardening here is usually very easy but this year has been particularly weird. I always stick with the old adage of pruning my roses after President's Day, I just hope they lose their leaves by then! Some are still blooming, some have hips and some are dormant.
Maybe I'm just "thinking" too much instead of just "doing"
Keli